Why I am Interested in Dental Academia

-

Why I am Interested in Dental Academia

To be honest, my decision to pursue a career in dental
academia came as quite a shock. I thought I had my whole career mapped out. Prior
to high school I set my heart on being a dentist, and it was my dream to have
my own little private practice in the Central Valley. Little did I know that
there would be several unexpected opportunities that would change my career
trajectory.

I first realized that I have a passion for teaching during
undergrad. I chose to attend University of the Pacific and participated in
their pre-dental program. During my second
year, I was invited to teach as a Supplemental Instructor for the Biological
Sciences Department. Basically, this meant that I got to hold my own biweekly
review sessions, present condensed lectures covering core concepts, and design study
materials including group activities, worksheets and mock practicals to
facilitate student learning. When Dr. Luthy first offered me the position, it
felt really daunting. Being naturally shy and an introvert, I never imagined
myself standing in front of a classroom full of students. However, I was up for
the challenge and accepted the position. I am so glad that I did because I
LOVED it! I remember staying up late and neglecting my own studies just because
I wanted to continue developing new study guides. (Don’t worry. I did fine on
my exams. I just got significantly less sleep that year). There was one particular
evening where I entered my classroom completely exhausted, wondering how I was
going to make it through the review session. Turns out, that was probably the
best review session I ever had. The students were really engaged. And furthermore,
you could tell that they were gaining a thorough understanding of the material.
There is a certain look students get when they really start to grasp a concept.
Their faces light up and it’s almost as if you can see a lightbulb turning on
over their heads. It’s seriously one of my favorite things. Anyhow, I ended up
leaving that review session feeling overwhelmingly satisfied with how the
evening had turned out and more energized than before it started. I felt like I
had found my calling. And ever since then, I have known that my career needs to
include teaching.

Dr. Venderova on left

Research has been part of my career for
quite some time now. Oddly enough, I used to see it as a really fun hobby that
I would eventually have to give up. I was so invested in my childhood dream of becoming
a dentist, that it never occurred to me that I could pursue research as part of
my career. It took one really amazing mentor to open my eyes to this
possibility. During undergrad I worked in the lab of Dr. Katerina Venderova.
One of the things I love about Pacific is that students really get to know
their faculty. In the context of research, this often means that students learn
directly from their PI’s and that they work side-by-side. The Venderova Lab
studied Parkinson’s disease using Drosophila
models, so nearly every day we would sit down and sort flies together. I
still remember the day Dr. Venderova told me that I ought to pursue a PhD. I
remember feeling totally stunned because it was completely off my radar. However,
that conversation planted a seed, and with Dr. Venderova’s continued
encouragement I eventually looked into applying for dual degree programs.

Histology Bench

Now I’m here at UCSF in my 5th
year of training as part of the DDS/PhD program. I am still working out
the details of what I want for my future career. However, I know that at least
part of it will consist of academic dentistry. Academia provides tremendous
flexibility and a wide variety of opportunities for intellectual and clinical
pursuits. For me, it combines three things that I love: research, clinical care,
and teaching. I know that I will never be bored. I am excited at the prospect
of not only contributing to the future of our field and to the design of novel
therapies but also in providing moral support for students. Dental school is rigorous.
There is no denying that. It gives me great joy to think that I will get to be
a Dr. Venderova for students in years to come, to encourage them when the road
gets tough, to help them find their perfect niche, and to foster their growth
as individuals as well as students. For me, academia is a place where discoveries
are made, great minds meld, and communities are formed. It is the place where the
sterile intellectual world of research meets the empathy and emotional
awareness displayed in clinic. Personally, to have one without the other would
be an imbalance.

AADR – SF Chapter

A career in dental academia might not be the right fit for
everyone. However, it certainly is an excellent option to consider. No matter the
career path you choose, I encourage you to discover what you are passionate
about and to pursue it whole-heartedly. If I have learned anything through my
career journey, it has been to keep an open mind and to hold my dreams loosely,
allowing them to change over time. Because you never know what opportunities
and experiences will come your way. The best ones are often those that you
never dreamed existed.